4 Feb 2012

US threatened Sweden with sanctions over piracy

The United States warned Sweden earlier this year that if the country did not act to stop illegal file sharing it would face tough sanctions from the World Trade Organization, a Swedish official said Tuesday.

pirate bay

A swirling controversy over the closure of the popular file-sharing website The Pirate Bay on May 31st left many wondering who was behind the raid. The American government and the powerful Motion Picture Association were responsible for urging police action, Swedish government officials have now admitted.
“During the spring, several conversations took place between American and Swedish officials,” said Dan Eliasson, undersecretary of state in Sweden’s Justice Department. “During these talks the American officials said that Sweden could end up on the WTO’s surveillance list if Swedish authorities didn’t effectively combat crimes against copyright laws.”

The Local - Wikileaks proof of US blackmailing SwedenThe Pirate Bay